Volume 8, Issue 23 by The Bottom Line (UCSB)

Volume 8, Issue 23 | May 21- 27, 2014

UCSB’s Weekly Student-Run Newspaper

@tblucsb / thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu

SHOWCASE

FLAMENCO

NEUTRAL

Students both past and present display their art at the Art, Design, and Architecture Museum.

The MultiCultural Center hosted Briseyda Zárate Flamenco Company on May 16.

The FCC moved forward with a proposal that would allow ISPs to charge for faster speeds.

A&E / 6

SCI & TECH / 7

FEATURES / 3

SPECIAL AS REPORT

CONTROVERSY STRIKES ASSOCIATED STUDENTS Sexual Assault Accusation Leads OPP To Rescind Membership and Call for Resignation of EVPLA-elect by Kelsey Knorp AS BEAT REPORTER

Photo by John Clow | Staff Photographer (From left to right): Sens. Corey Lau and Scott O’Halloran listen to the new elections procedure proposal.

AS Senate Debates Changes to Student Groups’ Legal Codes by Kelsey Knorp AS BEAT REPORTER

Associated Students Senate discussed two bills authorizing contentious changes to the legal codes of AS Elections Committee and AS Student Lobby at its meeting on Wednesday, May 14. The bill regarding Elections Committee legal code, tabled at the Senate’s May 7 meeting, is intended to finalize the code for the 2015 General Election of AS government officials. As outlined by the bill, the code must be passed by week seven of the spring quarter preceding the following year’s election. The terms of the bill also stipulate that after the code is passed, it

may not be changed until the conclusion of the next general election. One change outlined by the legislation was a decrease in the limit imposed on each political party’s campaign budget, from $6,000 to $5,000. Second-year biology major Gold Okafor advocated for this decrease, which she would have preferred limit spending to $2,500, at the previous week’s Senate meeting. Okafor felt that the current campaign spending limit gives an unfair advantage to more privileged students. “Right now we need to take into consideration that money plays a huge role in winning,” Okafor said. “It’s kind of an insult to people who are underprivileged on

this campus, to people who are not heard on this campus.” During discussion of the bill later that night, Off-Campus Sen. Andre Theus voiced his opposition to this $1,000 decrease. “I know that when I was running… I didn’t pay that much because I couldn’t pay that much money,” Theus said. “But I still paid what I could, and I was never asked to give anything more.” At Wednesday night’s public forum, Collegiate Sen. Ansel Lundberg read a student letter aloud to the Senate. This letter called for the implementation of a single transferable vote (STV) system in AS elections, in hopes of leveling the playing field between the two major parties on campus, the Democratic Process (DP) Party and the Open People’s Party (OPP), the latter of which currently dominates the majority of senator and executive positions. “The fact that a single party has

See SENATE | Page 2

The Open People’s Party (OPP) announced its decision to rescind the party membership and request the resignation of External Vice President of Local Affairs (EVPLA)-elect Beatrice Contreras on Friday, May 16, in response to allegations of sexual assault made against her. The statement posted on the OPP Facebook page Friday claimed the party “cannot comment on [Contreras’] guilt or innocence,” but that this decision would be best for the party, the student body of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the Associated Students of UCSB. The decision was reached in response to blog entries posted in April by second-year global studies major Crystal Long on a page entitled “Coalition for Survivors.” In an April 23 post, Long accused Contreras of sexually assaulting her during UCSB’s fall quarter, even addressing Contreras more directly in a follow-up post on April 26. Contreras responded with her own blog post, which she later removed. “At first it started out with just getting her out of power, because I didn’t trust her to be around other younger, more easily influenced women who were joining [groups with Contreras] and trusting her,” Long said. “But the way that it’s gone… it doesn’t really matter who believes me or not now, because it’s more about what people are going to do about it.”

At the time the incident occurred, Long was working as Commissioner of Diversity and Equity in the office of the AS President, while Contreras served as an off-campus senator on the AS Senate. Both Contreras and Long describe their relationship prior to the incident as close, but Long feels that Contreras always held more power over her as a mentor figure. This power has political roots and is encouraged by the way OPP operates as a party, according to Long. She describes OPP members as “straight politicians,” based on her experience working with them in the past. “The way that they’ve handled this… they’re trying to save their own reputation. It’s all about résumé builders,” she said. “And I know how much they’ve covered up in the past, before even my assault.” Long has chosen not to move forward with a police report or official investigation, in part because she felt that the process of filing a report would be too emotionally triggering, and also out of consideration of the long-term ramifications for Contreras. “I shouldn’t show mercy, but I still cared, even though I shouldn’t, about what people would see if they search her online,” Long said. This lack of investigation is a source of frustration for Contreras, who denies that an assault occurred. “I’m frustrated that few people have approached me about this

See OPP | Page 2

EXTRAVAGANZA BONANZA

Photo by John Clow | Staff Photographer

UCSB students pose for the camera before DIPLO comes on to perform at UCSB Extravaganza 2014.

2 | NEWS

TBL | May 21-27, 2014

–SENATE

Continued from page 1

Photo by John Clow | Staff Photographer Sen. Derek Wakefield asks questions regarding the new elections procedure proposal.

come to dominate the representation of the entire student body represents a failure on the part of UCSB’s Associated Students,” the letter read. STV is a form of proportional representation that utilizes a ranking system, in which each voter lists each candidate for a certain position in order of preference. A candidate is then elected based on his or her achievement of a certain quota of votes, rather than receiving the majority of votes. If the candidate given first preference by a voter has already met the quota of votes he or she can receive, the vote will be transferred to that voter’s next preference. Second-year sociology major Mohsin Mirza expressed his support for STV and recommended that the Senate move forward with its implementation immediately, by way of an amendment to the Elections Code bill on the table that evening. “[As] outgoing senators, you’re not as invested in elections as the senators who just ran are, so you’re more likely to be more open-minded about this,” Mirza said. Ultimately, the Senate voted 15-2-1 to pass the Elections Code bill, with amendments striking out both the change in party budgets and the stipulation that Elections Code must be passed by week 7 of spring quarter. The goal of eliminating this deadline is to give the Senate more time to consider the possibility of implementing STV as a new voting method. As Student Lobby Treasurer, Mirza also protested the change to Student Lobby legal code on the table that evening. He specifically objected to the appointment process outlined for Student Lobby officers, in which co-directors for the group are recommended by the External Vice Presidents of

Statewide and Local Affairs (EVPSA and EVPLA) and confirmed by the AS President and the Senate. “There’s two senators here at least who are [involved in] student lobbying, and they’re not supportive of this change either, so it would be very problematic if AS as whole changed something against Student Lobby’s own will,” he said. Theus, one of the bill’s authors, felt the changes would encourage more lobbying efforts within the group. He also claimed that though a meeting had been scheduled between Student Lobby, AS President Jonathan Abboud, and EVPSA Alex Choate, members of the group failed to attend. “This bill is essentially trying to direct Student Lobby to be more… lobby-based,” Theus said. “Student Lobby only lobbied once this year, and that was at [Student Lobby Conference], so they’re trying to expand Student Lobby to do more lobbying.” Off-Campus Sen. Jimmy Villarreal also pointed out several positive aspects of the bill, including a lobby education program and increased collaboration with the executive officers. “This would make [Student Lobby] work with the EVPLA and EVPSA, two offices [in which] lobbying is a big part of their job description[s] and what they do day-to-day,” Villarreal said. Collegiate Sen. Lupe Zelada, a vicechair for Student Lobby, said that the meeting referenced by Theus was not agreed upon, as certain members were not able to attend at the proposed time. She also emphasized the importance of Student Lobby maintaining the freedom to elect its own chairs, without the influence of the executive officers.

“It allows us to have a bit of a checks and balances with the EVPLA office as well as with the EVPSA office, instead of just giving them the full autonomy to choose and appoint [people] as the chairs,” Zelada said. “It’s something that’s actually made our Student Lobby one of the best Student Lobbies out of all the UCs.”

The Senate tabled the bill, to be discussed again at its last meeting of the year on May 21. It also passed “A Resolution in Regards to Responsibility in UC Investments,” which authorizes the continuation of efforts by a group working to implement a more socially responsible investment system at the University of California.

–OPP directly, instead jumping to conclusions,” she said in an email. “[Long] refuses to bring any case against me and I am now being punished without the opportunity to defend myself.” While Contreras confirmed that she and Long were physically involved, she says that this was a mutually desired relationship. Likewise, she claims the incident in question involved permission from both women. “We were both equally intoxicated and consenting adults, and shouldn’t be held responsible for each other’s actions,” Contreras said in an email.

Continued from page 1 Contreras believes Long’s allegations to be politically motivated, due to references in her blog post to OPP as well as an alleged statement that she wants Contreras removed so that she can become involved in AS once more. Though Contreras says that OPP’s statement came as a “huge surprise,” she does not plan to fulfill the party’s request for her resignation. “OPP can remove me from the party, but I don’t need to be a member of the party to serve this school,” she said in an email. “I look forward to my coming term as an independent executive.” OPP Party Chair Derek Wake-

field said that while the decision about Contreras was not an easy one, it was a decision the party felt ultimately had to be made. “It’s tough, especially on everybody in the party as well. She was somebody who we all became really close to,” Wakefield said. “But at the same time, when there are these allegations, you can’t ignore them.” Wakefield, who has been involved in several groups working to end rape culture on campus, said that statistically only two percent of sexual assault cases are found to be false. Though he did not initially support the idea of

taking a stance against Contreras, he now feels that it had to be done. “I know I certainly made comments [previously] that don’t reflect this final decision, and that really is my onus to bear,” Wakefield said. “I personally am really ashamed at some of the things I said, and I also believe that this statement is the right decision for the party.” A petition currently in circulation for a recall election would require 10 percent of students who voted for the EVPLA position to sign in order for an election to be initiated. According to AS Attorney General Sawyeh Maghsood-

loo, once these signatures are collected, another election would be held in which 20 percent of the school must participate and a twothirds vote must be accumulated in favor of recalling Contreras. Maghsoodloo believes that OPP likely asked Contreras to resign in order to avoid the tense climate the recall process would likely foster within the association. “Regardless of guilt or innocence,” said Maghsoodloo in an email, “this process would be unhealthy for the association, for the Open People’s Party, and for [Contreras].”

CORRECTIONS:

On page 1, we erroneously referred to “an HRB zine” as “an MCC zine” in “Humyn Rights Board Walking Tour Marches Through Activist History to Present Day.” On page 2, the article pasted beneath “Associated Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Gives Civics Lecture at UCSB” did not match the headline. The correct article can be found on our website. On page 4, captions on the second and fourth photos were switched.

WRITERS THIS ISSUE: Kelsey Knorp, Bailee Abell, Julia Frazer, Tara Ahi, David Wills, Cindy Chan, Andrea Vallone, Gilberto Flores, Mimi Liu, Maria Nguyen, Alec Killoran, Sam Goldman

PHOTOGRAPHERS THIS ISSUE: Lorenzo Basilio, Gianna Dimick, Madison King, Benjamin Hurst, John Clow,

The Bottom Line provides a printed and online space for student investigative journalism, culturally and socially aware commentary, and engaging reporting that addresses the diverse concerns of our readership and community. This is your community to build, share ideas, and publicize your issues and events. We welcome your questions, comments, or concerns at bottomlineucsb@gmail.com, or call our office phone at 805-893-2440.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS A PROUD MEMBER OF

ILLUSTRATORS THIS ISSUE: Hector Lizarraga

The Bottom Line is sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of California, Santa Barbara. Opinions expressed in TBL do not necessarily represent those of the staff, AS, or UCSB. Published with support from Generation Progress/Center for American Progress (genprogress.org). All submissions, questions or comments may be directed to bottomlineucsb@gmail.com or content.tbl@gmail.com.

Our web magazine offers hard-hitting journalism, analysis, and multimedia on issues of the greatest concern to young people; gives young writers, reporters, artists, and others the chance to publish nationally; and builds a community of progressives interested in issues, ideas, and activism.

TBL | May 21-27, 2014

FEATURES | 3

Starting Here Showcases UCSB Artists from 1950-2010 by Baliee Abell STAFF WRITER

Embedded within the researchdriven University of California, Santa Barbara is the passion-filled legacy left by student artists. This legacy is currently displayed at the Art, Design, and Architecture Museum at the University of California, Santa Barbara, which recently premiered its latest exhibition, “Starting Here.” The exhibit showcases the work of UCSB alumni who attended from 1950 to 2010, and though only 15 artists were featured initially at the opening on May 16, they will be joined by 38 more on June 28. “The exhibit is meant to celebrate not only MFA graduates, but UCSB in general, and the wealth of artistic talent through the years,” said Elyse Gonzales, the curator of exhibitions at the museum. “Starting Here” is not only a re-

flection on UCSB’s past, but also a glimpse into the future of the artistic community— with mediums ranging from corten steel to acrylic paint to digital media. Sommer Roman was a particularly noteworthy artist, as she uses a variety of materials found around the house to make her artwork. Her piece entitled “Just Here” is a play on words. It consists of a fivefoot-tall wooden post, with artificial grass surrounded by an ear-like shaped structure at the base. Roman’s work is very abstract, and she attempts to trigger the senses and a different way of thinking about how we navigate the world. Her pieces allow the audience to “question the idea of certainty and safety” with a multifaceted intellect and point of view. “I am also very interested in the importance of play, and how that ‘plays’ into art-making and life,” said Roman. This concept is indicated in many of her pieces with the mate-

John Nava’s “One Nation Under Surveillance” welcomes patrons into the alumni art space.

rials she uses: trapezes, discarded clothing, old mattresses, and mirrors, among others that display the surrealism of her work. Also displaying work was Enrique Martinez Celaya, a Cuban American artist who graduated with honors upon receiving his MFA from UCSB. He showcased one painting that was part of a 2006 commission series entitled Awaiting a Second Plan, dedicated to Osip Mandelstam, a Jewish man who lived in Russia during its revolution and the rise of the Soviet Union. The particular watercolor displayed at the museum covered almost the entire wall. “As you can see, there are blue skies around the border, and there was a field of wildflowers. But I painted over it,” said Celaya. The painting instead shows a smoke-like scene with a bird emerging from the darkness and Mandelstam’s name handwritten at the bottom, conveying the destruction and hopelessness experi-

Photos by Gianna Dimick | Staff Photographer Museum patrons take a photo with Clare Little’s work. enced during Stalin’s rise to power. Cathy Ellis was also among the showcased artists, and her paintings were just as unique. Inspired by both dystopia and utopia, Ellis is fascinated with the concepts behind having a completely perfect and imperfect world. One painting

Visitors converse in the main room alongside the artwork.

in particular was conceived upon witnessing an avalanche. “My dad lives up in the mountains of Colorado, and one day there was this huge avalanche. I was fascinated by the way the thin branches of the trees curved under the pressure of the snow,” said Ellis. “It is also surrounded by a circle, which represents wholeness on some level.” What these pieces have in common is their symbolism and abstractness. It is difficult to understand the message of each work at first glance, and some pieces require inquiry or even extensive viewing. Though some pieces were displayed at museums worldwide– from Los Angeles to Japan–the artists never forgot their roots at UCSB, and continue, to this day, to give back to our campus and show current students what it means to follow your passions.

Shabbat 500 Event Celebrates Jewish Tradition Julia Frazer STAFF WRITER

Chabad and AEPi hosted University of California, Santa Barbara’s annual Shabbat 500 dinner last Friday, May 16. This year’s event at UCSB had a goal of drawing 500 attendees. Large gatherings celebrating Shabbat are held in campuses across the country, with numbers of attendees ranging up from a few hundred to even a thousand. These Shabbat events bring together amazing numbers of students, staff, and members of the community in a celebration of Jewish culture and pride. Alyssa Lubey, a third-year global studies major, was impressed at the scale of the event. “It’s a lot bigger than I expected,” said Lubey. She was excited to participate in the Shabbat tradition, as she had not celebrated a big Shabbat since her Birthright trip to Israel in a previous summer. Co-director of Chabad at UCSB Rochel Loschak played a key role in organizing the event. Because this was the third annual large Shabbat event held at UCSB, Loschak knew how great an undertaking the event was. “It was a lot of work, but it was great,” said Loschak. “It’s exciting and amazing to host something so big and unifying. It is a night of unity, tradition, Judaism, and

Jewish culture.” Loschak emphasized the inclusive nature of the event, which welcomes people from all walks of life, Jews and non-Jews alike. “[At Shabbat 500, people] see what it means to be Jewish and experience Judaism in its fullest and most joyous,” she said. “It is a way to expose and not impose Judaism.” The dinner took place after prayer services at Hillel in a large tent lit by strings of lights. Before the feast began, organizers and speakers like Chabad’s Rabbi Mendel and president of UCSB’s chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi Michael Rosen came up to express gratitude for the event. “It’s the day of the week that we’re all blessed with to sit and reflect on everything that we did throughout the week. Shabbat 500 [has become] something we can look forward to every year, even if you don’t go to Shabbat throughout the year,” said Rosen. “Take in the sanctity of the day, and really reflect about what it means to be sitting here with the whole Jewish community. Think about how the whole week has gone and think about what you can do to make next week better for you.” Tables were set with Shabbat candles, which were lit by female attendees in a traditional ceremony.

Photos by Benjamin Hurst | Staff Photographer An AEPi member revels in the Shabbat festivities with members of the Jewish community. For attendees unfamiliar with Shabbat, organizers provided informational sheets on the various aspects of the special Friday night dinner. Guests were guided through different ritual acts, such as ritual hand washing and sharing of grape juice in lieu of wine, before the meal was served. “It’s a mitzvah [charitable act] to

honor and enjoy Shabbat with delicious foods,” explains the sheet. “We have a tradition of taking this very seriously: make sure to feast!” The night was filled with laughter, song, prayer, and, of course, food. Guests were treated to homemade challah, salads, matzoh ball soup, potato kugel, roasted chicken, and a dramatic spread of desserts.

Loschak, who cited the fact that there are about 3,000 Jewish students at UCSB, hopes that next year’s Shabbat event will be even bigger. She encourages all students to visit Chabad. “It’s a place where students can come to avoid the chaos of the weekend,” Loschak said. “It’s a lighthouse bringing light to Isla Vista.”

SHO Helps Break Stereotypes At Houseless Awareness Night Tara Ahi STAFF WRITER Student Health Outreach (SHO) hosted their annual event Houseless Awareness Night on Wednesday, May 14, for an evening that included students, professionals from Doctors Without Walls, Common Ground, and Health Empowerment And Love (HEAL). Members of the houseless community also attended, some of whom shared harrowing tales of how they came to be houseless or how they overcame their obstacles. There was an emphasis on breaking stereotypes, and how it is fundamental to change the way we see members of the houseless community and stop discrimination. SHO focuses on outreach to those without means through basic care and medical help, as well as encouraging other businesses and programs to contribute to the cause. According to SHO, a core goal of the organization is to “bridge the gap between medical professionals, local authorities, and social workers by serving

as a frequent source of positive social interaction with the homeless.” Breaking stereotypes was a resounding theme throughout the night, which was addressed with a common-ground icebreaker, a Q&A with a panel of professionals and members of the group, and—most effectively, in my opinion—testimony from members and former members of the houseless community. The emotion in the room was palpable as we listened to recounted hardships, bad luck, unfavorable circumstances, and deaths of loved ones, and marveled at the resilience that shone through in each part. Rev. Doug Miller of the Interfaith Initiative and Greater Santa Barbara Clergy association has been an integral part of fostering a more progressive mindset regarding the houseless community and how they can be given aid. One of his current projects is developing portable showers to ensure consistent and available hygiene services. Empowerment is a key concept for Miller.

“The greatest movement in life—spiritual or social—is from a master/slave relationship to an equal friendship,” he said. “We’re trying to move in that direction.” Sustainable living, funding for housing and shelters, and eliminating prejudice are all fundamental goals to drive the process. This entails a change in perspective from both a social and legal outlook. The wording used during discussion and in legal bill drafts is crucial in how the decisions are made; generalizing and exaggerating has taken a great toll, thus the focus on language. Furthermore, as one member of the community reflected, these prejudices come out in subtle ways. Members of the houseless community are targeted by the law, which justifies itself behind phrases like “aggressive panhandling”— something that sounds scary but is not actually seen often. There is also a notion to eliminate discrimination based on housing status, the same way discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is being fought. This actually has revolutionary roots, and dates back to times

of landed gentry, when owning land is what allowed someone to have an opinion. But, as another speaker pointed out, a person can go from having a house to not having one very quickly. It is not always due to drug abuse or mental disorders, as most think; oftentimes financial hardship is at the cause of the problem, with more people in danger than the general public would guess. Living paycheck to paycheck does not leave much room in case something goes wrong. The root of prejudice presents itself in many ways, and SHO works to deal with how it evolves. During the Q&A with the panel, it was pointed out that it is always easier to be indifferent than to care. People feel guilty and may not know what to do or how to react to hardship. This is why sharing stories is key. This aspect of the event is what resonated most, whether it was through the guest speakers or musical performances given. The conclusion SHO perpetuates is that a healthy houseless population is ultimately fundamental to the health of the larger community.

TBL | May 21-27, 2014

4 | PHOTO

Yancellor Chang bassist Sam Goff plays at UCSB Extravaganza 2014.

UCSB students watch the musical performances.

A UCSB student watches Diplo from her friend’s shoulders.

EXTRAVAGANZA Photos by John Clow | Staff Photographer

Jhené Aiko

Diplo

Chance the Rapper

TBL | May 21-27, 2014

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 5

KJEE Roundup Kicks off Summer

Photos by Madison King | Staff Photographer The lead singer of Young the Giant, Sameer Gadhia, croons into the mic. Gilberto Flores STAFF WRITER

On the cloudless Thursday of May 15, local radio station 92.9 KjEE hosted their 10th annual Summer Roundup at the Santa Barbara Bowl. The concert was headlined by alternative-rock-reggae band 311, and Young the Giant, Big Data, and Birds of Tokyo preceded the main act with indie, electronic, pop-rock jams that caused the Bowl to shake. Though doors opened at 4 p.m., Birds of Tokyo did not take the stage until over an hour after, giving the early-arriving audience members enough time to stock up on band merchandise. The band’s tunes are the perfect amalgamation of soft rock and indie roots to display the “alternative rock” logo that every performer of the evening had in common. After their opening song “This

Lead singer of 311, Nick Hexum, jams on his Flying V electric guitar.

Fire,” off their 2013 EP “Lanterns,” lead vocalist Ian Kenny promptly removed his sunglasses, deeming the eyewear as “always so impersonal.” Despite it being a small act, the gesture immediately caused me to feel more connected with Kenny (while, admittedly, I was swooning over his accent). “We came all the way from the West coast Australia to be here,” Kenny said. “Just kidding, that’s total bullshit. But we are happy to see your beautiful faces. You’re all very handsome.” The highlight of the performance was surely “Lanterns,” the band’s empowering, youthful ballad to which many fans were singing along. After a brief intermission, Big Data entered the Bowl. When announced at the beginning of the evening, the band did not seem to be known by attendees, including myself, and I did not know what to expect before the show. So when the performance began with a phony electronic voice projecting

Ian Berney, bass guitarist for Birds of Tokyo, dances around the Big Data’s female vocalist prays for our stage as he lays a sick bass beat. digital souls at the KJEE Summer Round Up.

from the National Security Administration, I was definitely shocked. The computer repeatedly said, “I am your friend,” and called upon the audience to text, Tweet, and Instagram about the band. After this haunting message, Big Data began performing, defying my expectations (or lack thereof) in the process. The music juxtaposed electrodance beats with alternative influences, layering paranoid lyrics on top. Their opening song, “The Stroke of Return,” alluded to their skepticism of the Internet: “They’re looking into the new request / They just require your home address.” Even though I found the lyrics to be slightly unnerving and a bit creepy, I, like many others, was able to focus on the rhythm of the techno-style jams and enjoy the warmth of the sun. Young the Giant was the band I was most excited for. Though this was my second time seeing the altrock icons live, it was indubitably as incredible as the first. As they

walked onstage and began playing, fans knew within seconds that the band was opening with “Anagram,” the upbeat song from their sophomore album, “Mind Over Matter.” Frontman Sameer Gadhia energetically clapped, jumped, and flailed his arms around, demonstrating his post-teenage angst-y attitude. Before playing “Firelight”–another new song–Gadhia sang the lyrics “amber is the color of your energy,” to which devoted 311 fans in the audience cheered with appreciation. “I can tell you guys are ready for 311–you’ve already started with the weed,” said Gadhia. “I love it.” Excited shouting resounded from the pit and surrounding seats when the band began their final song, “My Body.” This song definitely resulted in the most dancing, as it is an upbeat, youthful anthem, perfectly fitting for a pre-summer evening. Despite the obvious strain in Gadhia’s voice, fans did not seem to mind, and they begged for an encore after the band had to, sadly, leave the stage.

After a nearly 30 minute wait and many eager shouts, 311 entered the Bowl. They pleased their fanfilled audience with both new and old songs, as they were promoting their newest album, “Stereolithic,” released March 11. Providing the audience with funky rap-punk-alt-rock was their main goal, it seemed, and though there is no particular way to describe the music, a majority of the concert’s attendees were there specifically for 311, and they definitely showed it. Audience involvement– including marijuana use–dramatically increased when the band began performing, and the chill yet energetic vibe resonated from the stands along with the music. Though I unfortunately had to leave before the event was through, I continued to listen to the alternative sounds of 311 all through my walk out. The KjEE Summer Roundup was a concert for the books, and the positive vibes and eclectic atmosphere was worth braving the heat.summer?

David Whyte’s ‘Solace’: ‘The Art of Asking the Beautiful Question’ Photo by Lorenzo Basilio | Staff Photographer

Cindy Chan STAFF WRITER

Campbell Hall was packed and abuzz with excitement on Wednesday, May 4, as University of California, Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures presented David Whyte’s talk, “Solace: The Art of Asking the Beautiful Question.” The poet, author, and inspirational speaker Whyte presented a lecture melded around his poetry, most notably from his recent release “Pilgrim” (2012). Whyte’s poetry and storytelling, laced in a hypnotizing Irish drawl, is nothing short of transcendent. From a youth of studying business and marine zoology, Whyte’s imagination and constant love for poetry cultivated a unique creativity within him. Whyte has been a transformative voice in the world of poetry, philosophy, and corporate advising. The lecture focused on a question that we all seem to ask: the “beautiful question.” Whyte proposes this beautiful question focuses around an identity, or unspecified significance, that we aim for. But pushing toward an

David Whyte lectures about “The Beautiful Question” at Campbell Hall Wednesday, May 14. answer should lead us just to new questions. Whyte spoke of the meaning of “solace” as to convey the ability of asking questions even in the hardest situations–to shape our own identities by having the courage to ask, and dare to cross over a “frontier existence,” a limited one. The theme of the night was pilgrimage, a journey with a specific destination, or to set off for an unknown horizon that tempts us with fulfillment–a big fat symbol of the giant, beautiful question that we all ask ourselves. The specific centuries-old Christian pilgrimage Whyte’s story centered on, El Camino de Santiago, served as a catalyst in the realization of the eye-opening effect of such a journey. As finishers of the pilgrimage reached such “ends of the earth”–in Whyte’s story it is Finisterre, Cape, the westernmost point of Spain’s mainland–there exist three rituals one should partake in. The most emblematic ritual is leaving behind something that one took on their journey. Whyte spoke of a woman in his life who inspired his poem “Finisterre,” who left behind her boots, a pair that had lasted her on so many tough roads. “…to abandon the shoes that had brought you here / right at the water’s edge, not because you had given up / but because now, you would find a different way to tread, / and because, through it all, part of you could still

walk on, / no matter how, over the waves,” read Whyte. Learning to leave behind the old was a main part of Whyte’s guidance on how to gain new eyes. To leave a story that’s been good to you is a terrifying concept. But to be bold and courageous, to forge new paths of vulnerability, and not associate vulnerability with weakness is key. Of the mostly older crowd, topics of marriage, children, and experience flowed throughout the conversation. Whyte joked that if we were to meet our younger selves and tell them of what lies ahead, the youth would all but live the remainder of their life in a padded room, for life is inevitably filled with heartbreak and losing almost all that we love. The sooner that we accept this reality, the more we can live our presents in dreamlike manners. The most sincere, generous paths involve forklifts full of vulnerability and heartbreak. According to Whyte, if we close off for this fear, we become small and are not able to grow. Whyte’s words danced around the idea that we do not need to do anything to find the journey within ourselves. It is rather that our eyes become open to the journey that has been unfolding all along. Whyte’s reading of an older poem of his “The Opening of Eyes” spoke of our own

unique frontiers. The poem brought forth the image of Moses removing his shoes, only to observe that he was standing on holy ground the whole time. This reveals that we long for and commence on pilgrimages and journeys throughout our lives, only to discover we were standing on that transformative path all along, and that we did not need to go looking for it. The real miracle of life, as discussed, was that we are something rather than nothing. We can lose our identities and names and gain new ones like pilgrim, only to find significance in all that we had taken for granted. Whyte’s stories and poetry reading focused on provoking listeners and attacking minds in a way no other poet can match. Repeating stanzas as he saw fit to convey his ombre implications, with varied inflections and power behind each word, silence remained seated with the audience. His presence, witty and captivating, invited every audience member to romantically and unapologetically fall into a state of deep reflection. The central idea of a pilgrim, moving their way forward in between things, passing through very quickly, speaks to the very plight of a college student. It seems we too are searching for a specific destination, but like the pilgrim, we need help, company, solitude, and silence to truly find what we are looking for.

TBL | May 21-27, 2014

6 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Flamenco Music and dance captivates the MCC Photos by Lorenzo Basilio | Staff Photographer

Briseyda Zárate finishes a dance as the audience claps. Gilberto Flores STAFF WRITER

Briseyda Zárate performs during “An Evening of Flamenco Music”at the MCC Theater on May 16.

Briseyda Zárate finishes a dance as the audience claps.

Briseyda Zárate Flamenco Company performed at the MultiCultural Center Theater on Friday, May 16, in an event sponsored by the University of California, Santa Barbara Education Abroad Program and the Flamenco Arts Festival. The company musicians and dancers put on an exhilarating sold out performance in one of MCC’s final events of the year. Flamenco is a traditional style of Spanish folk music and dance, dating back to as early as the 1770s, and is still popular today all over the world. The main components of flamenco expression are the flamenco toque (guitar), cante (song), cajon (percussion), and baile (dance)–and the dance company brought them all. Dancers Briseyda Zárate and Pamela Lourant brought “el baile flamenco,” while guitarist Gabriel Osuna, singer Jesus Montoya, and percussionist Gerardo Morales provided the flamenco toque, cante, and cajon. Zárate’s flamenco dance company manages to remain true to the roots and essence of flamenco while delivering an incredibly emotive and very exciting cultural experience. They began with a slow song and sensual dance, picking up speed along the way; Zárate and Lourant took to center stage and oriented the audience to the passionate rhythm and movement of flamenco. The flamenco baile is known for its intensity and expressive use of arms, snapping, and hand clapping (known as palmas). In one dance, the intensity was clearly evident in Zárate’s facial expressions as she danced in a white dress while rhythmically stomping her feet to the music. In the same dance, Zárate fused elements of other cultural influences when her tap dancing began to slightly resemble the Irish Riverdance. Her versatility and impressive choreography demonstrates an incredible level of skill that only comes with years of experience and commitment. The dresses themselves are a major element of the dance. Dancers often hold the ends of their dress up as they dance, giving the audience a good view of their impressive footwork. In certain instances, flamenco

dancers resemble blooming flowers as they twirl. Later on, Zárate changed into a bold red dress that greatly resembled the large bright red carnation she held in her hand. Zárate also emulated a Spanish bullfighter as she twirled while holding her dress. The musicians provided great musical accompaniment, and all members of the company supported the dancers by playing and clapping along, sometimes cheering the dancer or musician on as they performed. Montoya’s heartfelt voice radiated throughout the intimate theater, becoming more passionate as the night went on, and at times, he held his hand up to his heart. Montoya’s enthusiasm was also very infectious as he yelled out “guapisima!” (“very lovely” in Spanish) as the dancers performed. Morales’s expert drumming complimented the dancers’ rhythm as they stomped in sync with the drums. His use of the cajón, a hollowed out wooden box used my flamenco percussionists, also added some great depth to the music and dancing. One of the truly exceptional musical talents was guitarist Gabriel Osuna, whose unbelievably fast arpeggios in one dance-less song were just that–unbelievable. Human eyes could not keep up with the rapid movement of his hands, and the sound he produced was simply mesmerizing. The performance culminated with a friendly dance battle between Zárate and Lourant, each one clapping and cheering the other one on. “Ya todo acabo” (“It’s all over” in Spanish), sang Montoya as the show was coming to an end. With a final “Ole!”, the quintet’s final bows were met with a much deserved standing ovation. “An Evening of Flamenco Music and Dance with Briseyda Zárate Flamenco Company” is the MultiCultural Center’s final concert of the year. There are two film screenings and one lecture left until the end of the season. “TransVisible” will be screened on May 21 and “Narco Cultura” on May 28 in the MCC Theater. A lecture on race and the U.S. prison system with Professor Kelly Lytle Hernandez from UC Los Angeles’s Department of History will take place on May 20.

Pamela Lourant dances with the Briseyda Zárate Dance Company at the MCC Theater on May 16.

(Left to right): Gabriel Osuna and Gerardo Morales accompany the dancing with soothing guitar sounds and rhythmic beats.

Pamela Lourant dances in a ruffled dress.

(left to right): Pamela Lourant and Briseyda Zárate perform together during “An Evening of Flamenco Music”at the MCC Theater on May 16.

Briseyda Zárate performs intricate moves with her hands and arms.

The Briseyda Zárate Dance Company performed at the MCC Theater on May 16, 2014.

TBL | May 21-27, 2014

SCIENCE & TECH | 7

THE BATTLE FOR NET NEUTRALITY OPENS TO THE PUBLIC by David Wills On Thursday, May 15, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to move forward with a newly proposed plan regarding net neutrality. The proposal, which was passed in a 3-2 vote, would allow Internet service providers (ISPs) to charge websites for faster bandwidth speeds for their viewers. The vote also opened the debate for public comment on a timeframe of 120 days, after which the final vote will be made on the new plan. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler’s proposal aims to protect the bandwidth broadband speeds that are promised to customers by their ISP, preventing carriers from slowing down their customers’ access to particular websites. It will, however, allow for web content providers to pay ISPs for “fast lane” access to their websites, according to Telegram. Additionally, the plan will only allow paid prioritization in cases that are considered “commercially reasonable,” although how that would be determined remains unclear. It is important to point out that the plan is still in the proposal phase and has not yet been voted into law. The three Democratic commissioners, including Wheeler, that voted in favor of the proposal hope that the 120-day timeframe for public input will help determine what the best course of action is. “What we’re dealing with today is a proposal, not a final rule,” Wheeler said in a statement after the vote. “We are specifically asking for input on different approaches to accomplish the same goal: an Open Internet.” The two Republican commissioners that voted against the proposal fear it will put too much regulatory power in the hands of the FCC. “The [Federal Communications] Commission is trying to cast an even wider net of authority,” according to Commissioner Michael O’Rielly. “I fear that other services and providers could become en-

Illustration by Hector Lirraga | Staff Illustrator snared in the future.” The proposed plan is a step away from the idea of net neutrality, which calls for an open and equal Internet for all web content. The plan that is being proposed would allow a website like Netflix to pay an ISP like Cox for faster streaming speeds for their customers, according to The Washington Post, and in fact said website has already had such limitations forced on it by certain carriers. “Have you heard of what ISPs are doing to Netflix?” said Jason Dahn, a second-year computer engineering major at University of California, Santa Barbara. “It’s ridiculous!” However, it could also leave new startup websites at a severe disadvantage in the market due to slower speeds, thus potentially fracturing the Internet landscape as we

know it, according to BGR. “If I want to be real, I think the lack of net neutrality could really bring down the democracy of the Internet,” said Maria Nguyen, a second-year film and media studies major at UCSB. Net neutrality activists are calling for the FCC to instead rule the Internet as a “common carrier” under Title II of the Communications Act of 1934, similar to how telephone landlines are regulated. Such a ruling would prevent ISPs from discriminating their service based on particular websites, just like how phone companies cannot discriminate based on who is talking on the phone. Opponents to a Title II ruling argue that it would lead to rigorous regulation over the broadband industry, an industry that has been largely unregulated up to this

point. President Barack Obama did not issue a response to the FCC decision, a sign that he may be backing away from his presidential campaign promise in favor of net neutrality, according to TIME. Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner and other major Republicans have publicly opposed any regulation of broadband Internet in an open letter to the FCC. The proposal comes hot off the heels of two other major open letters to the FCC written in the past week. The first, from Internet giants like Google, Netflix, and Reddit, among dozens of others, called upon the FCC to prevent paid prioritization for web traffic in favor of an open Internet. The second, from ISPs such as Cox, Comcast, and Verizon among others, claimed to the FCC that a Title II classifica-

tion of broadband Internet would stunt innovation in the industry. Much of the Internet’s future rests upon this debate over net neutrality, which Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) recently called “the free speech issue of our time.” Supporters of net neutrality hope the timeframe for public comment will sway the FCC to reconsider its current proposal. Citizens are encouraged to submit a comment through the FCC’s website to express their opinions on the matter. “This is your opportunity to formally make your point on the record,” Democratic FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn said following the vote. “You have the ear of the entire FCC. The eyes of the world are on all of us. Use your voice and this platform to continue to be heard.”

Professor Richard Church Receives GIS Research Award by Mimi Liu STAFF WRITER University of California, Santa Barbara geography professor Richard Church has just been chosen as a recipient for the 2014 University Consortium for Geographical Information Science Research Award (UCGIS). “I am truly honored by being selecting for this award and the recognition it brings to the field of location science,” Church said. This prestigious award recognizes his consistent work in the field of geographical information systems (GIS), as well as locational analysis and modeling, natural resource management, and transportation. One of his most frequently cited papers, “Maximal Covering Location Problem,” was written in 1974 and contributed greatly to the field of GIS. “It was first published in a journal,” Church said. “Regional science literature is a relatively small discipline; it started in the late ’40s and early ’50s. It’s a relatively new field, in a small corner of the academic world.” Church’s paper focuses on covering problems, a branch of location science. The main goal of maximum covering is to identify the best placement of facilities with mathematical modeling. Church’s major contribution to the theory and application of location analysis has greatly impacted the field of location science. “Covering is used to determine the amount of manpower needed, advertisement placement, hazardous waste allocation, bus stop locations, and EMS posting positions,” Church said. “Ambulances are posting changes every hour–that’s 168 posting plans in a week. Guard posts, look-out towers–these are all applications of maximum covering.” Church’s research applies to a wide range of fields, including the

Reservoirs seem simple, but they’re not,” Church said. “Benefits of reservoirs include flood control, water supply, and power generation. Now, how do you maximize the benefits and reduce the costs? How do you do that with multiple reservoirs? –UCSB geography professor Richard Church

Photo by Lorenzo Basilio | Staff Photographer Geography Professor Richard Church explains his research in location science.

fashion industry. Maximum covering influences apparel design; for example, patterns must be placed on fabric in a certain way to account for the alterations made during the stitching process. With maximum covering, one could use a model to predict the best way to maximize the coverage of the fabric to minimize the waste, and thereby the costs. “An example of a non-spatial application is color tab design for false teeth,” Church said. Dentists use color tabs–akin to paint chips–to match the coloration of false teeth to the existing ones, he explains. Maximum covering allows the most commonly used shades of false teeth to be predicted, which eliminates excess waste. Church started his undergraduate studies believing that he would

study chemistry. However, after allergies forced him out of chemistry lab, he turned toward environmental engineering. He later studied water resources, systems engineering, and reservoir management. “Reservoirs seem simple, but they’re not,” Church said. “Benefits of reservoirs include flood control, water supply, and power generation. Now, how do you maximize the benefits and reduce the costs? How do you do that with multiple reservoirs?” After Church earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Systems Engineering, he worked on various projects, one of which involved optimizing the location of power plants along a river basin. “Power plants need a source of water for cooling,” he explained.

“There will be thermal discharge– warm water being released from the plant–and it will change the environment of the stream.” The challenge was to create a model that could be applied to the placement of power plants along the river basin in an optimal way. This was when Church became interested in the location of systems rather than the water itself. ”The UC provides a fertile workplace,” Church said. “There are good students here–the students are important. Without them, we wouldn’t have a university.” Church has authored over 230 publications in his 39-year career, collaborating with coworkers from a variety of places, such as geography, business, environmental science, civil and industrial engineering, math,

statistics, and management science. “I’m trying to create a system that gathers information from the Internet and melds it with GIS layers,” Church said, when asked about his current project. There are 341 fire stations in Los Angeles County, Church explained. However, a model has been developed to predict that the county could service the same areas with only 254 stations. “It takes two billion dollars a year to operate these fire stations,” Church said. “Which is about the amount of money given to the University of California to operate 10 campuses.” Church is working toward being able to one day look at any county’s fire stations and determine how efficient deployment is. Increased efficiency could mean saving money for institutions in the long run, something beneficial to both the state government and taxpayers alike. Church will be receiving his award May 21 at the UCGIS summer symposium in Pasadena, Calif.

8 | OPINIONS

TBL | May 21-27, 2014

Does UCSB Need a General Education Reform? Do Away With Undergraduate General Education Requirements Altogether

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General Education Requirements Do Wonders for Dinner Table Conversation

by Maria Nguyen Does an art major need to take a class on calculus? Does an engineering major need to take a class about film theory? University of California, Santa Barbara’s current general education requirements are allocated by degree, college, and major. Each college–the College of Creative Studies, College of Letters & Science, and College of Engineering–has strict confines as to how many courses of which particular subject area is necessary to graduate. There are multiple drawbacks that come along with our current strict GE requirements. The majority of us have already spent 12 to 13 years on general education; we learn about each subject area from elementary school, to middle school, to high school. Doing away with the requirements of GEs gives students a chance for a more in-depth expertise for their concentration. According to the UCSB Office of Financial Aid website, the cost of tuition for an undergraduate, in-state, student at UCSB for the 2014-2015 year is estimated at about $12,192. Students are strained to take multiple required courses out of their area of interest–and to pay for them. If you are coming into college with slim to none advanced placement course credit, it may take more or less than two years to complete these GEs. With the consideration of time and money, $24,000 is spent toward classes that are not nearly as relevant as classes in your major would be. The more classes required, the more time and money is spent for each student. With UCSB’s current system for GEs, there is a strict divide for lower division classes versus upper division classes. What this means is that there is a sharp transition between a broad base of schooling, and specific expertise of teaching. While lower division classes are attuned for any major, upper division classes are designed so that the disciplinary aptitude is clustered in the last few years.

Being an ace of all trades for the first two years of your UCSB career is a disadvantage if the aim is to be talented and extensively knowledgeable about your main pursuit. The idea of a depth curriculum rather than breadth allows for more focus and expertise on your discipline. Along with the idea of more in-depth knowledge of your major, doing away with GEs would allow for stronger relationships between students and professors. Having the same people in your classes can help solidify professional relationships between peers and disciplinary professors. When the GE requirements are so heavily stressed, students tend to rush to find both relevant classes and ones that satisfy their GEs. From this, particular classes become crowded while other classes contain students who are fairly dispassionate about the subject. There are still juniors who are trying to take Writing 2 classes while there are plenty of freshman with an unfulfilling course schedule for the quarter. While the most popular major for undergraduate students coming into UCSB is the “undeclared” major, community colleges like SBCC are tailored to help with breadth education. Community colleges do not require majors, in part, to assist those who are not as sure of their disciplinary focus yet. Institutes of higher education in countries like India, China, Korea, Spain, Denmark, and Germany do not demand the same general education requirements as U.S. universities do. Some of these countries, like India and China, are the largest education hubs for higher education. On top of that, many of these countries include numerous top rated universities in the world, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, for their discipline-intensive programs. General education reform for UCSB could take a boulder off of students’ shoulders, and at the same time give them more freedom.

PRO REFORM

When the GE requirements are so heavily stressed, students tend to rush to find both relevant classes and ones that satisfy their GEs. From this, particular classes become crowded while other classes contain students who are fairly dispassionate about the subject.

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CON REFORM>>>

At a huge university like UCSB, students may come in undecided, and the general education requirements enable us to shop around a little to see where we fit best.

by Andrea Vallone STAFF WRITER

A lot of us students groan at the thought of fulfilling our general education requirements– stalling that last ethnicity class, or throwing a tantrum when you don’t get into Dance 45 and have to take Art History instead. Sometimes even the professors’ own boredom is palpable during lecture while they face a sea of students texting, or snap chatting “kill me now” as they select the grading option of Pass/No Pass and slowly drift in attendance throughout the quarter. So why do we have them? They’re founded on the basis of making students well rounded, but if we’re not paying attention anyway, is the university just kidding itself ? General education requirements have been a source of much contention over the last few decades, as colleges and universities have begun to reform their curriculum to match the demands of the 21st century. Most arguments against general education requirements highlight that they are essentially a waste of time–mere obstacles to obtaining a degree. A more modern concern is that a core curriculum necessitates more courses one has to take, and thus more money and more time spent at university that millennials just can’t afford. In other words, the opportunity cost of writing that last paper on irrigation systems in Chile for your environmental science class is that job at that publishing house that your English major self so desperately wants. Or, quite literally speaking, if you need to take four general education classes, that amounts to about one quarter of class at UCSB– in other words, $5,000. At the University of California, Santa Barbara, there are three degrees a student may earn, each of which has a core curriculum. The Bachelor of Arts Degree requires completion of seven “general subject area requirements,” including a foreign language, mathematics, arts, literature, culture and thought, social science, and English reading and comprehension. A total of 15 general education requirements must be completed by graduation for a B.A. For the Bachelor of Science degree, the same general subject areas are required but only 11 requirements must be met. For the Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Music Degree, students must adhere to the same general subject area requirements as above but only 9 courses. Moreover, students in each degree must complete “special subject area” requirements, which include: six courses from a writing requirement, world cultures, quantitative relationships, and ethnicity (the B.A. requires one more: European Traditions). So it’s clear that UCSB has a pretty sub-

stantial general education regimen for its students. But if the requirements are set in place to broaden our horizons, isn’t it slightly weird that the requirements aren’t equal across all majors? Do you need less enlightenment as a zoology B.S. than you do as a feminist studies B.A.? This aspect of GEs is slightly hypocritical and undercuts the entire philosophy of expanding our educational horizons–all of our horizons, equally. Moreover, most classes that fall under the general subject area requirements tend to be tethered toward western culture and thought, which is then complimented by the additional category of “European traditions.” The current global state of affairs raises the question of whether UCSB’s GEs should be modified to fit with more relevant information and knowledge. Yes, “Heart of Darkness” can be discussed endlessly, but what about Middle Eastern traditions? Or religion? After all, if GEs are meant to engender critical thinking and skills applicable to the real world, wouldn’t we want ones that are actually relevant? General Education requirements at a school like UCSB should exist–that’s no longer the question. We could go the liberal route that Brown offers, but that would require a Utopian educational society in which students would actively choose their own courses and construct their major–heads up, this probably requires more work than refreshing “progress check” on GOLD every quarter. Unfortunately, for the 20 percent of your Psychopathology class that never shows up, and does other homework for their major courses when they do–they’re never going to change. You can’t force people to learn. But there are those who do need some guidance; at a huge university like UCSB, students may come in undecided, and the general education requirements enable us to shop around a little to see where we fit best. Furthermore, it’s fun to see professors design upper division classes in their discipline that may attract students from other majors such as “Detective Fiction” by Professor Newfield or “Psychology of the Supernatural” by Professor Germain. However, the make up of GEs at UCSB may have to be reconstructed. As it stands, taking Philosophy 1 and surveying major European philosophers that also pop up in Evironmental Science 3 or Sociology 1 is a waste of your money. Classes like Modern Iran, or intro into Islamic law should be encouraged– these are the classes that will actually give you something to say at the dinner table.

A GAME OF ADAPTATIONS Why Most of HBO’s Changes to Everyone’s Favorite Fantasy Series Are Just Fine

Illustration by Hector Lizaraga | Staff Illustrator by Sam Goldman STAFF WRITER Despite its wild popularity, “Game of Thrones” has been increasingly criticized this season by fans who’ve read the series of novels, the complaints being that the show is increasingly diverging from the original books to produce its own stories. While the latest Craster’s Keep incident did leave me scratching my head a little bit, the producers’ adaptations are not something worthy of totally freaking out about. George R. R. Martin gave David Benioff and D. B. Weiss creative licensing when they agreed to produce the show, meaning the producers could take some liberties with the original work. So they’re obviously not breaking any rules (though maybe some hearts) when we see Arya as Tywin Lannister’s cupbearer. There is, however, an enormous precedent for this: how often does one see a movie or TV show adapted from a book that does not change the story or characters to some degree? “Game of Thrones” is doing the same thing as countless other adaptations. The fans who’ve read the books know what’s supposed to happen–Martin’s 1,770,000 words have already provided them with a vivid mental movie that the show isn’t depriving them of. Like a book being translated into another language, adaptations between two mediums necessitate changes no matter how faithful to the original producers try to be. Over one and half million words is quite a lot for even a TV show spanning several seasons; there is no way a show meant to keep up more than a sluggish pace can include all the detail and background

necessary to reproduce the exact “A Song of Ice and Fire” world. Parts of the story that are boring or rather longwinded and are not totally necessary to continuing the main plots are left out so the show remains manageable. On top of all that, “A Song of Ice and Fire” is itself a particularly difficult series to adapt to the screen. The many separate storylines may pace themselves evenly in the books, but when the more boring parts of them need to be taken out for the show, storylines become mismatched and require something new to be put in, something that can’t be drawn exactly from the original (i.e., the end of Craster’s Keep). In the same vein, many of the events in the books are so complex and require so much background that they need to be altered so that a simpler plot mechanism that still works with the overall story can be used. Much of the epic nature and sheer grandness of Martin’s world cannot easily be reproduced for television, whether it’s by physical construction or CGI. Take the Iron Throne, for example: it’s supposed to be made of a good 1,000 swords that can easily cut whoever’s sitting on it and rests imposingly and asymmetrically at the top of a steep set of steps. Both Daenerys’ trip through the House of the Undying and Tyrion’s missing nose are two significant aspects of the books that could not easily be duplicated visually. Moreover, it’s impossible to cast the perfect people (at least from a visual standpoint) for every role, nor is it possible to keep the younger actresses and actors from aging faster than

their characters. All in all, the increasing changes we’re seeing as the story becomes more complex and epic are both necessary and sensible. The great bearded man himself stated in an interview with Vanity Fair that he thinks the show looks great, and that “when you work in television or film, it is a collaborative medium, and you have to allow the other collaborators to bring their own creative impulse to it, too.” A limit should exist, however, to these kinds of adaptations. “Game of Thrones” admittedly does go a bit too far sometimes in their amping up of Martin’s more shocking scenes. The show’s creative licensing privileges get put toward playing up parts that contribute to the show’s shock value, which invariably attracts many of its viewers. Gratuitous rape and violence for this purpose–such as the recent, controversial scene of Jaime raping Cersei by Joffrey’s corpse, which was portrayed less coercively in the book–can arguably perpetuate harmful perceptions of these topics, not to mention further confuse an already complicated character arc. In theory, creative licensing shouldn’t be a problem, but in reality, producers need to take care that what they’re altering isn’t going to unnecessarily depict actions harmful to society’s notions of serious issues. If we’re going to criticize the modifications “Game of Thrones” makes to the books, let’s focus on the ones that matter, rather than the ones that are necessary.